Practices, Problems and Prospects of Strategic Management toward Organizational Self- Reliance: A Case Study of the University Of Lagos, Nigeria, 1995-1998.
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Date
1999-03
Authors
Nwikina, L
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Abstract
The study was designed to ascertain the opinions, level of satisfaction (acceptability), and the sources of dissatisfaction of members of the University of Lagos community regarding the current strategies toward self-reliance of the University of Lagos. It was also to ascertain the perception of the operational managers of the self-reliance programmes of the institutions, about the problems in the implementation and suggestions for future practice; and to analyse certain identified threats to, and opportunities for self-reliance of the University of Lagos as perceived by the top corporate managers of the institution. A descriptive research approach was employed in the case study. The subjects involved were the three groups in the University of Lagos community - the students and staff, the operational managers, and the top corporate managers. A sample of the students and staff population was selected by the purposive sampling mode. Almost the whole of the other groups of subjects - the operational managers and the top corporate managers was studied. The instruments used for the study were the researcher's constructed and validated questionnaires. These were the Satisfaction for Strategies to Self-Reliance Questionnaire (SSSRQ), the Operational Managers Checklist (OMC), and the Top Corporate Managers Checklist (TCMC). The data was analysed by means of the student t-test statistics, means and percentages. Four hypotheses were postulated to determine whether significant differences exist in the opinions and levels of satisfaction of the various segments of the University of Lagos community: the full-time and part-time students, the undergraduate and postgraduate students, the academic and administrative staff, the students and staff; regarding the ongoing measures for self-reliance at the University of Lagos. It was found at 5 per cent level of significance that no significant differences exist in their opinions and level of satisfaction. Eight questions were raised in the study. The answers to these questions show among others that: Functions as those of the Unilag Press, Unilag Bookshop, the Alumni Association and the Unilag Ventures were the most satisfied with. The levels of satisfaction of the various segments of the University community with the on-going innovations for self-reliance were of high positive degrees. The most frequent sources of dissatisfaction with the University of Lagos measures for self-reliance were that, they were expensive, not comfortably enjoyed by the common persons; rather exploitative; and poorly managed. The most highly visible problems encountered by the operational managers in the innovative ideas in managing toward self-reliance at the University were shortages of facilities; shortages of funds and personnel with special, professional skills. The study gave a pat to the current University of Lagos Administration in its on-going strategies for self-reliance and survival of the institution. It encouraged it to introduce other ones. The University of Lagos would therefore from time to time make careful review of the operation of its various self-reliance programmes with a view to determining their future policies and making decisions, whether they are fulfilling their original objectives or not, how successful they have been whether they should be encouraged to develop further in the direction they were taken in the previous years, and what commitment of resources the University's should afford or justify making in the future. Many recommendations were made from the study. Some of these were that: the National Universities Commission should make official pronouncement to direct every Nigerian university to adopt strategic management practices to guide against falling victim to environmental exigencies and ensure its vitality and dynamic state. Each university should develop overall strategies for its corporate survival and beyond that to excellence and comparability to any world prestigious university, and that it should be entrepreneurial and innovative as much as any business does. This is necessary not only to ensure alternative sources of funds to offset the effects of decreasing government subventions but to provide a sustained sources of rewards and satisfaction in the institutions
Description
A Thesis Submitted to the School of Postgraduate Studies, University of Lagos
Keywords
Level of Satisfaction , Public Tertiary Institution , Self-reliance Programmes , Operational Managers
Citation
Nwikina, L (1999). Practices, Problems and Prospects of Strategic Management toward Organizational Self- Reliance: A Case Study of the University Of Lagos, Nigeria, 1995-1998. A Thesis Submitted to University of Lagos School of Postgraduate Studies Phd Thesis and Dissertation, 251pp.